SUNRISE, Fla. –
Florida Panthers general manager Jacques Martin announced today that the club has acquired D
Steve Eminger from the
Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for D
Noah Welch and Florida’s third round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Eminger, 25, has played in 274 NHL games with Tampa Bay (2008-09), Philadelphia (2008-09) and Washington (2002-08), amassing 10 goals, 58 assists and 265 PIM. This season, Eminger ranked first among Lightning defensemen in points with 25, and is fifth overall on the team in assists with 21. Eminger was drafted by the
Washington Capitals with their first choice (12th overall) in 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
Eminger played four years of junior hockey for the
Kitchener Rangers from 1999-2003, playing his last two seasons under current Panthers head coach Pete DeBoer and with current Florida C
Gregory Campbell. The trio won a Memorial Cup together in 2003.